By Rebecca Fending
Knowing what to serve at a get together can be difficult, and even more so when it comes to deciding what drinks to make for guests. However, these four pitcher drinks may be just what your party needs. Whether you’re looking for cocktails for friends or family-friendly beverages, here are a few recipes that are sure to please every guest.
Party Punch
We’ll start with a classic party drink: punch! Fruity, sweet and just what the doctor ordered during hot weather, serving punch at a party is fail proof no matter the occasion. Not only is it tasty and refreshing, but it’s also a great excuse to get your daily dose of fruit. There are so many ways you can make a punch, but this one is great with or without alcohol:
- One 12 ounce can of frozen lemonade concentrate
- One 12 ounce can of frozen fruit punch concentrate
- Two 33 ounce bottles of club soda
- One large, sliced orange
- One large, sliced lemon
- One cup of frozen berries
Mix well in a pitcher or bowl. Serve chilled or over ice.
You can easily spike this recipe to make it more entertaining for the adults. Add your favorite neutral liquor such as vodka or rum to liven up the pitcher, two cups of whichever you choose.
Lovely Lemonade
Another family-friendly drink for summer is, of course, lemonade. You don’t have to make homemade, although it would be even better, making this an easy drink to make in bulk for your guests. If you’re using a mix, follow the directions on the packaging. Otherwise, here’s how you can make it yourself:
- Juice of 10 lemons
- 2 cups sugar
- 4-5 cups water
Mix everything together and chill until ready to serve. Whether you follow homemade or use a mix, be sure to slice one lemon to improve and preserve the authentic flavor. Plus, it looks pretty.
Again, lemonade can easily be made adult-friendly- just add one to two cups of your preferred vodka.
Marvelous Margaritas
Another great party drink, especially for summertime parties, is a margarita. This drink is easy to make yourself, or you can use the shortcut of buying the pre-made margarita mix and adding your own tequila. Making it yourself gives you the creative liberty of making a classic lime margarita, berry, pomegranate or mango. Here’s a base recipe for a homemade margarita pitcher:
- 1 1/2 cups of triple sec
- 1 1/2 cups lime juice
- 3 cups of your preferred tequila
- 1/2 cup simple syrup
- Ice
Mix everything in your pitcher or bowl and serve over fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge.
If you want to make a flavored margarita, only include one half cup of lime juice and add one cup of your preferred flavoring, whether it be juice or a homemade puree. You can also add slices or chunks of your designated fruit as garnish and added flavor.
Summertime Sangria
This traditional Spanish sangria recipe from Minimalist Baker is sure to “wow” your guests. For a party-sized portion, here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 chopped apple
- 1 sliced orange
- 3 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 1/2 cup orange juice
- 2/3 cup brandy
- 2 bottles of dry red wine, preferably Spanish
Muddle your apple, orange and sugar in the bottom of your designated container with a wooden spoon for about a minute. Add your orange juice and brandy, re-muddle until just combined. Add your wine and stir together. Adjust the flavors according to your liking; don’t be afraid to add more fruit juices.
No matter what drinks you serve at your parties this summer, your guests are sure to love them. Remember to always garnish with fresh fruit and have plenty of cups on hand.
